The Sun. — London, England, 1864-03-05 00:00:00

niPE r Ala PARLIAMENT JSE OF LORDS—Last Evening, The T •OED CHANCELLOII. took hie seat on the woolsack St s e' clock, ___ THE ROLLS COURT. TY ,e LORD CHANCELLOR brought in a bill to amend the - act passed in the year 1861 for appointing an additional this: f clerk to the Master of the Rolls. The gentleman ap poin ted in 1861 had been promoted, and it now became SISCA Vritry to appoint a successor. T he bill was read a first time. SIR JOHN LAWRENCE'S SALARY BILL, Oa the motion of the Duke of AI3.OYLL, this bill was clad a first time. Their lordships then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS—Last Evening. The Speaker took the chair at four o'clock. THE CHARIT Y BOARD. Mr. FERRAND gave notice that he would move for the) appointment of a select committee to inquire into the construction of this board. CAPTAIN SPEK E. Sir W. MILES asked the First 1 ord of the Treasury whether it was the iateation of her Mijesty's Governmen to recognise the great services of Captain Speke in opening Equatorial Africa to the knowledge of the world. Lord PALMERSTON said he fully acknowledged the merits of Capt. Speke, who had showed such courage and industry, and so much capacity in selecting a point, and however some might demur to the efforts of the gallant officer, it must be admitted that he had settled that interesting geographical problem as to the source of the Nile, but of what immediate value this solution might be ha was not aware. (Laughter.) Having referred to Dr, Livingstone and other celebrated explorers in different parts of the world, the noble lord said that the Government did not consider that Captain Speke had effected anything to take bins out of the ordinary category of distinguished travellers, so as to entitle him to any special recognition of his services. In reply to Mr. NEWDEGATE, Lord Y.A..LUERSTON said ho wac aware that Dr. Be.ke's researches led to the originality of those of Captain !peke being disputed. SIR M. MONTEFIORE'S MISSION. Mr. Aldermaa SALOMONS asked the Under Secretary Hof 6tate for Foreign Affairs if her Majesty's Government had received any official information of the result of Sir M, Monteftore's philanthropic representation to the Sultan of Morocco on the judicial crudities indicted ou the Jews at Sian? Mr. LAYARD said that he believed the Sultan of Mo rocco was not answerable for the cruelties that had been practised on the Jews in his dominions. The Government, by letters of recommendation and other means, had endea voured to fAcilitate the labours of Sir Moses Montefioce. Tne Sultan had granted a finnan for the protection of the Jews in Moroco, the advantage of which might be estimated when it was considered they amounted to 500,000. The right hon. gentleman paid a high tribute to the philan thropy of Sir Moses blunteffore, which was uninfluenced by sect or country. (Hear, hear.) CATTLE DISEASE PREVENTION. Sir M. SfE WAIN asked the Under Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether, considering the short time that had been utfirded for the consideration of the " Cattle Diseases Prevention" and " Cattle, &c., Impor tation" Bills, and the importance of the interests concerned, he would postpone until after Easter the second reading ut these bills ? Mr. BRUCE said that bill had been in the hands of hon, members for three weeks. THE GAL WAY CONTRACT. Mr. BAXI.EII. asked the Secretary to the Treasury, whether there was any truth in the following statement, ex tracted from the Galway Gazette:—" The directors of the Atlantic Company have applied to the Post-ollice authori ties for permission to disoontinue the mail service between Galway and America until June next. They have also intimated their intention of entering upon negotiations with another company for the use of steamer to commence the service at that time, as the ships of the company will not be in readiness to sail even then. The directors are reported to be of opinion that they can never carry out their contract with the ships at present in their possession, and will, in all probability, endeavour to effect a sale of their interest in the project, with a transfer of the mail subsidy, to some existing company more capable of carrying out the project than they are :" also, in how many instances the vessels of the company have kept contract time : and, if her Majesty's Government is still of opinion that this service is a great public benefit to Ireland. Mr. PEEL said that the Alexandra Company had ap plied to Government to allow the contract to be suspended until June next, and were engaged in nogotiationa that they believed would enable them to commence operations about that time. Luring the aim months' contract the com pany had tailed in lour voyages. (Laughter.) VACCINATION, In reply to Mr. BAINES, Mr. LOWE said that he was not aware that any bill on this subject would be introduced this session. LOCAL LEGISLATION IN AUSTRALIA. Mr. CHILDERS asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any despatch had been received by a recent mail from South Australia, intimating that Mr. Justice Boothby (one of the judges of the Supreme Court of that province) had decided that all the local legislation of the colony since I 80.) was invalid, and had on that ground refused to administer one of such acts ; and it su, what course her Majesty's Government intended to take to remedy the evils which must arise from such a decision Mr. C. FOILTESCUE said that a communication on the subject had been received, and he trusted that measures would be adopted that would remove any doubt in reference to the same. PROOF CABLES. Mr. LAIRD asked the Secretary to the Admiralty, if the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty were aware, when they issued the advertisement dated 19th Jan., 1864, an nouncing that the Transport Board have no objection to the reception of Messrs. Brown, Lennox, and Co.'s certificate of proof of cables for ships hired by that department up to Ist July, 1864, instead of those required by Lloyds' committee, that Lloyd's committee had extended the same privileges to many other manufacturers as they had done to Brown, Lennox, and Co. ; and whether the Admiralty would there fore, on application being made by any of the chain makers whose certificates were recognised by Lloyds, be prepared to extend to such chain makers the same privilege as they have granted to Messrs. Brown, Lennox, and Co., and to notify the same by public advertisement, as they did in January last in respect to Messrs. Brown, Lennox, and Co. ; and whether the navy estimates would be proceeded with on Monday, Lord C. PAGET replied in the negative to the last ques tion. Ha was not aware that there was any other firms besides those mentioned had applied to be allowed to teat cables up to July next, but if applied to the Admiralty would be prepared to consider the matter fairly. METROPOLITAN RAILWAYS. In reply to Mr. HAMIARD, Mr. M. GIBSON said he intended to call attention on Monday to the report of the select committee, and to move that certain undertakings should not be allowed to be pro ceeded with. TARIFF BETWEEN AUSTRIA. AND THE ZOLLVEREIN. In reply to Mr. S. FITZGERALD, Mr. M. GIBSON said that the Government had been made aware of the project of a traffic between Austria and the Zoilverein, bat did not think it in any way affected British interests. GOVERNMENT ANNUITIES BILL AND THE PENAL SERVITUDE BILL.; In reply to an HON. MEMBER, Lord. PALMERSTON said that it was proposed to proceed with those bills this evening, the Government Annuities Bill to be taken first. The army estimates wouli not be proceeded with on Monday. PUBLIC PROXIES VOTING PAPERS. On the motion for going into Committee of Supply. Mr. D. GRIFFITHS moved that the stamp on proxy papers, used for the purpose of voting in public companies, associations, and charities, being a tax which impedes the exercise of a franchise, mi g h t conveniently be reduced to ld. Some discussion ensued, but the motion was withdrawn. THE PROCEEDINGS AT SOOCHOW. Colonel SYKES called the attention of the house to the following resolution, passed unanimously at a meeting of the Commis representing European nations at Shanghai on the 16th December, 1863, at the British Consulate, moved by Mr. Markham, the British acting Consul, and seconded by Mr. Keswick, Danish Consul, " that this meet. ing, as representing the whole foreign community, views with unqualified disapprobation the late proceedings of the Footai at Soochow as an act of extreme treachery,abhorrent to human nature, calculated to withdrawn from the Imperial cause the sympathies of Western nations, and the aid of th e gallant officers who have hitherto assisted them," and as ked the First Lord of the Treasury whether, with this i renewed instance of perfidy in Imperial officials, it is in. tended by her Majesty's Government to pass unnoticed further vio;ations of the instructions of the Foreign Office, to British authorities in China, to be strictly neutral in the civil war which has so long raged in China. The hon. and gallant member said that a force, consisting of 200 men of the Gith Regiment, 100 men of the Royal Artillery, and 100 men of the 22d Native Infantry, under Major Murray, R.A., together with 200 13eloochees, had been throw n into two cities beyond the 30 mile boundary of the treaty ports. The garrisoning of those two cities by the British had enabled Major Gordon to advance with his en tire force to Soochow. This place had been taken by com mand of the major -general commanding the forces in China, Major -Gen, Brown. The house had repeatedly heard the Prime Minister, the Under Secretary of State for Foreign hffaita, and the Secretary of the Admiralty declare th at atrial Majestys Governm en t h ad issued instructions that het ne utrality was t o b e maintained in China beyond 0 mile limit from th e treaty ports, which it was bought necessary to maintai n in security against the effects the contest between the rcbele and the Tartar Govern meat. The moment he had received that communication from China, knowing that others had been issued from the Foreign-office, and recollecting the statements that lad been made in that house, he had immediately ad trefaed Earl Russell, bringing to his notice this violation his orders, and stating that he (Col. Sykes) should cons rit his duty to bring that violation of his orders by M lur• Gen. Brown before the notice of the House of Commons. It was in ful filment of that pledge that he now addressed himself to the house. The butchery referred to at the meeting of the con suls had been perpetrated by perfidy. Perhaps the hon. gentleman, the Under Secretary, would tell the house, as he had told him (Col. Sykes) that this butchery was an ex aggeration—that he had heard it from Major Gordon. But Major Gordon had not witnessed those butcheries, having been almost a prisoner on the 4th and bth December, and having no means of preventing them, from his having sent his troops back to their headquarters. Great results often followed very small causes. So it had been in this case ; for if Major -General Brown had followed his instructions and not garrisoned those two towns, one of which was 45 miles and the other 100 miles from Shanghai, Major Gor don could not have withdrawn his whole force, and could not have made such an impression upon Soochow as led to the surrender of the place by treachery, in which he was sorry to say Major Gordon himself had taken part. The honourable and gallant member then proceeded, with the aid of several extracts from Chinese newspapers and correspondence, to detail the circumstances attend ing the surrender of Soochow. That city being invested by the Imperial forces, part of which consisted of disciplined Chinese and Europeans under Major Gordon, the garrison and inhabitants it would appear, had been in duced, after repulsing several attacks, to capitulate on the understanding that their lives and property were to be saved. That capitulation, he thought, had been brought about, to a great extent, by the belief of the rebel chiefs in the statement of Major Gordon that the promise of the Imperial Viceroy or Footai should be kept. So far, however, from this, on the chiefs surrendering they were at once decapitated, and possession of the city gates being obtained, the Imperial troops poured into the city and plun dered and massacred for a period of 20 days. The treachery at Soochow had led to the slaughter of no less, according to one account, than 30,000 man, women, and children. It might perhaps be supposed by some that the affair was accidental ; but in truth it was part and parcel of the cruel and treacherous habits which had always characterised the Tartar Government. All of us, unhappily, had painful recollections of the tortures indicted upon some of our officers on their way to Pekin. After enumerating other instances of cruelty on the Chinese, the hon. gentleman concluded by expressing his regret that her Majesty's Go vernment had sanctioned the employment of British officers in the Imperial armies. Lord PAL NIERSTON—Sir, I think that, on the gene ral question, I concur entirely with my hon. and gallant friend, for my opinion is that it is for our interest that the rebellion should cease, and that the authority of the Em peror should be maintained or re-established in China. It cannot be to the advantage of those who trade with China that that country should be the scene of civil war. If there were any possibility of the rebels succeeding in dethroning the Emperor, and establishing some other Government in lieu of his, it might then be a matter of choice between the two Governments. In that case persons might, according to the particular views they took, think it desirable or not that the present dynasty should be maintained, or that the rebel dynasty is one which should be put in its place. But there is no chance of it. The rebellion has not in itself the elements of success or organisation. I think, therefore, it is necessary for the commercial interests of this country that order should be re-established, so that commerce may be carried on. It was for that purpose that permission was given to Captain Osborn and Mr. Lay to organise a naval force for the pur pose of co-operating with the Imp( rial Government ; and it was with that view that an order in Council was passed permitting British subjects to join the service of the Empe ror of China. Unfortunately, neither of these arrangements , have answered their purpose. The expedition of Captain Osborn has returned, he having had differences with the Imperial Government. Captain Osborn did not think it consistent with his duty and his honour to continue in the 1 service of that Government. With regard to the expedition under Captain Osborne, which entirety failed, the order in council authorising it was revoked—(hear, hear)—and as the conduct of the Chinese officials was so disgraceful, the other order in Council was also revoked—(hear, hear). — leaving it to the prerogative of the Crown to grant permis sion to individuals, if they think proper, to enter the service of the Emperor of China, upon application in each case by the individual concerned. Nothing earl be more deserving of condemnation than the conduct of the Footai of Soochow. I am afraid I must admit that all nations have their pecu liar faults, but there are two faults with which we must reproach the Chinese—the one is cruelty, and the other is perfidy. (Hear, hear, and a laugh.) They have certainly shorn, on this occasion, most lamentable instances of both, We don't exactly know what was done in consequence of barbarous act of treachery. Colonel Gordon, according to our accounts, was only waiting to know what course the Imperial Government would take. He made representations to Sir F. Bruce, who no doubt would truly represent the matter to Prince Kung ; the result of that communication is still unknown ; but let us hope that adequate punish meat will be inflicted upon the Footai for his barbarous conduct on that occasion. That conduct we are entitled to resent, because Colonel Gordon was made the unwil ling instrument to lure the people into the power of the Footai, and was consequently made the instrument of those barbarous executions. Not only should we endeavour to prevent any further acts of that kind, but it was our duty to make strong representations ur on the point. At the same time, I can only repeat what I have already said, that her Majesty's Government deeply lament and indignantly con demn the conduct of the Footai. 'We don't know what the Chinese Government have done on the subject. There are some papers to which my hon. and gallant friend referred, and these will be laid on the table in the course of a couple of days. (Hear, hear.) Mr. WHITE said he was happy the noble lord had in formed the house that the two orders in council had been revoked ; for ho presumed that no British subject would in future participate in hostilities against the Taepings. Whatever the defects of the rebels might have been, the conduct of the Imperialists was equally reprehensible in the conduct of the war; and it was much to be deprecated that her Majesty's Government had given any countenance to the Chinese Government against the Taepings. English merchants and others in communication with China regret ted very much that her Majesty's Government had not car ried out their nen - intervention policy in that country as well as in their negotiations with other nations; and there could be no doubt that if such policy had been pursued, the provinces of China which were now disturbed and hive verislaed would be in a condition of prosperity. The recent proceedings in China had brought discredit upon the cha racter of this nation. (Hear, hear.) Mr, KINNAIRD could not agree with the hon. member as to his views of the policy ot her Majesty's Government. That policy was one for the protection of the ports, and con sequently the beat means of securing British interests. BUILDING OF CONFEDERATE SHIPS IN BRITISH PORTS, Mr. LEFEVRE drew attention to the come) pursued by agents of the Confederate States of America in fitting out vessels ot war, and enlisting seamen in the porta of this country—especially the Florida and Alabama—in violation of the laws of neutrality. He admitted that the Govern ment had honestly enforced the provisions of the Foreign Enlistment Act, but he thought they should have adopted the same course with regard to these vessels that they had afterwards taken in the case of the steam rams at Liverpool. He contended that it was both our duty and our interest to prevent such proceedings in English ports, and that to meet the circumstances of which he complained our municipal law ought to be amended. He invited the Government, therefore, to inform the house what steps they had adopted in the matter, and moved for any correspondence that might have taken place with Confederate agents in this country in relation thereto. Lord R. MONTAGU said that the Alabama and the other vessels had been built as mere commercial specula tions, and no hostile intent had been proved against them to bring them within the action of our municipal laws. With regard to the Alabama, it was not for us but the Fede rals to fit out a ship for her capture. Mr. BAXTER expressed his concurrence in the views enunciated by Mr. Lefevre, and Mr. TAYLOR argued that the Alabama and the other Confederate vessels should have been stopped, even though the Government had to come for a b T il h l e of s i o n L de i m e n uoß. ityinc G o E ns N eq EitA consequen ce . The said that, although the opposite taunts whi c h had been levelled against the Go vernment might be left to answer each ether, he desired t• reply to the case whi c h h ad been urged against ' them for fi having allowedrespect to the Fl or id a. Before the Florida left our shores the Governm en t h ad no sufficient information of her destination being for the C onfederates. In the next place, the Florida was detained at Nassau, and an inquiry was held with respect to her in the Consular Court, which ended in her acquittal. And as to the Florida, he was also to state that there was no reason to be lieve that she had been manned in this country ; in deed, it appeared that she was manned from the Confederate States, although there wore some Englishmen among her crew. It was impossible for them, therefore, to have stopped the Florida, or to have treated her otherwise than as a properly commissioned vessel belonging to a re cognised belligerent. In the case of the Georgia they had no sufficient evidence of her being intended for the Confe derates before she left our shores. But they had since re ceived information that sho had been .nanned in great mea sure at Liverpool, and iu fact such other information as had induced the Government to institute a prosecution against the Messrs. Jones and Co., of Liverpool, who were carrying on an organised business of the kind. To come now to the case of the Alabama. No doubt that case differed from the others; and it likewise differed from the case of the Alex andria, which was before the courts. The Alabama had what might be called exclusive warlike e quipments — a t least, to a certain extent; upon her decks there were sockets for guns, and these appeared to him to be warlike equipments. Moreover, there was evidence before the law officers of the Crown which showed that the Alabama was manned at Liverpool by agents of the Confederate States, for the pur pose of fighting the Federals. The then law officers of the THE Strisi, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, MARCH 5, 1864. b C e ro all w o n w w e d e r e t o clearly e o f opi Liverpoolnio nthat b t u h t e , Alabama n a s h t e o l u y l , d n e h o e t could b escaped.e held on This r w es s p sn sb o i t, l. Sheheoweve escaped r,amisf by ruse,ortunefo anrwhd under hw e e r ial t t o ri i p n . sur N e o f w or , e h ig e n r Ma jesty'spretence Government o thatern shemetlt co was goinguld not n Go vernments that our laws should not be broken. All that could vb e a held trial be expected from them was that they should diligently, and to the best of their ability, enforce the Foreign Eenlistmett Act. That we had, as he believed, done this, was a suffi cient answer to any claims for compensation which might be made against us in respect of the capture of the Alabama, The Rappahannock again escaped at night by a ruse, and get to Calais, where she hoisted the Confederate flag. But neither the Government nor even Mr. Adams had any information of her equipment until she reached Ca lais, and we could not, therefore, be held responsible for her escape. The greater part of the crew who sailed in her were ignorant of the purpose for which they were engaged ; and it would, therefore, have been hard to institute a prosecu tion against them. The Government had, however, insti tuted a prosecution against an officer of the dockyard, who was believed to have taken part in fitting out the Rappa hannock and engaging her crew. It had been said that the four ships to which he had referred were substantially Bri tish ships. But that he denied ; they were, to all intents and purposes, Confederate ships of war, Again, it was said we ought to pursue and capture them. But we could not do so, because they were now the commissioned ships of a recognised belligerent, and such a commission had been de cided by our own and also by the American courts to purge all previous taint upon the origin of a vessel. There was more to be said in favour of excluding these vessels from our ports —but upon the whole her Majesty's Government thought they would beat preserve their neutrality by admitting them, so long as Federal ships were permitted to resort to our harbours. He could, however, quite conceive that there might be conduct on the part of the Confederate Govern ment which would lead us to revoke the permission to their vessels to enter our ports. He quite admitted that the fact that we had not recognised the independence of the Confe derate States was no reason why we should not protest against their violations of our neutrality, and the wrongs done by them to British subjects. There was, however, some difficulty in approaching them—but he believed that beforo long steps would be taken to convey to them the re monstrances of her Majesty's Government, and to obtain from them any explanation they might be able to give of the conduct pursued by their agents. The hon. and learned gentleman concluded by referring to the difficulty of maintaining a strict neutrality between two exasperated belligerents, and at the same time expressing the desire and intention of her Majesty's Government to adhere to the course of strict impartiality which they had hitherto pursued. Sir E. COLEBROOK E did not think that the Govern ment should prevent the supply of ships to the Confede rates, unless they klso prevented the export of arms to the Federals. Mr. J. EWART was desirous that the strictest neutra lity should be observed between the two belligerents. The motion was then withdrawn. GENERAL DOYLE. In reply to Mr. HALIBURTON, Mr. LAYARD said it was not true, as stated in the American newspapers, that the conduct of General Doyle had been disapproved of by her Majesty's Government. On the contrary, it had received their approval, and there was therefore no reason to be believe that he would be recalled. The house then went into committee of supply, bat was immediately resumed. PENAL SERVITUDE ACTS AMENDMENT BILL. On the order of the day for the second reading of thts bill, Mr. ADDERLEY moved as an amendment that the bill be read a second time that day six months. The right hon. gentleman argued that the penal law was at present neither clear nor precise, and that the measure of the Government would only make it still more mystified and doubtful. He was of opinion that the punishment for crime should be sharp, short, and certain, and that if any remission were allowed it should be limited solely to improved treatment and the adoption of a system of classification. If tickets or licences of leave were granted they should be given uncon ditionally; he objected, therefore, to the proposal to sub ject the convict to the supervision of the police. The amendment was seconded by Mr. BEACH, who, however, expressed an opinion in favour of police supervi sion, which he observed had worked remarkably well in Ireland. Mr. G. HARDY supported the bill, but suggested various alterations and improvements that might be intro duced in committee with a view of rendering the measure more efficient and useful. After some observations from The O'CoNon Dox and Sir W. MILES, Sir G. GREY replied in defence of the bill ; and ulti mately the amendment was withdrawn, and the bill was read a second time. The Inclosure Bill passed through committee. The remaining business was also disposed of, and the house adjourned at one o'clock. (tetuporarily, until Earl Vane should be qualified fora seat) and Captain Pryce, of Cyffcnydd, were elected in the place of Mr. Pension and Mr. Fefeaux. A dividend of 6 per cent. on the ordinary shares having been declared, the meeting separated. LLANIDLOES A.ND NEWTOWN. The half-yearly meeting of this company was held at Llanidloes on Friday ; Mr. Ct. H. Whalley, M.P., in the chair. The CHAIRMAN moved the adjournment of the meeting, but he was strongly opposed by Captain Jones, a director. The chairman put on his h►t, and declared the meeting at an end, but he did not leave the room, and the proceedings were conducted by Captain Johns. Mr. Henry Garteide and Kr. George Rae were re-elected to the Board in the place of Mr. Whalley, the chairman of the company, and Mr. Lefeaux. Mr. Parson and Mr. J.P. Wilding were requested to resign their seats at the Board. The proceedings then terminated. The Suburban Traffic on the Great Western Railway, Some correspondence has passed between Mr. de Salis and the directors of the Great Western Rail way, the former complaining very bitterly of the suspension by the Great Western Railway of the through traffic between Farringdon-street and Windsor, which had been provided for a short time. The writer points out that, by so doing, the Great Western has done great injustice to the residents upon the line, and inflicted a serious injury upon their own shareholders, as the Great Western Com pany have embarked £300,000 in money and plant towarps the construction of the Metropolitan Rail way. Mr. de Salis says that the neglect of the Great Western to develop its suburba❑ traffic has been continuous. "Your West Drayton station," he says, " with the wide and salubrious expanse of country around it, appears destined to continue limited in size to ten or twelve small houaes ; situate on the South• Western line it would have become a now Kingston. Your Hanwell and Southall stations, with sites surpassingly well adapted for villa residences, are to remain unuti lised and unbuilt upon, but if placed on the Brighton line it would have become a Croydon ;" and as for Ealing, he says, had the Great Western not barred the line to the city it would have been a Norwood or a Sydenham. The writer also points out the great personal inconvenience and annoyance in flicted on the population of the suburban districts, and that the policy pursued by the directors tends to nip in the bud all the plans which may be formed or forming for the future progress and development of the beauties interested. To this communication Mr. Saunders, on behalf of the directors, replies :—" The directors are anxious that the through communica tion should be resumed at the earliest practicable period, and with this view negotiations are now pending between the officers of the two companies; but to enable the trlffic to be carried on in a manner to afford proper accommodation to passengers tra veling to the City,without undue interference with the traffic of the main line, much is needed to be done in the shape of increased accommodation over our own line, as well as in connection with the Bishop's-road station. So long as passengers with their luggage require to pass between the Metropo litan Railway and the down platform of the Pad dington station, inconvenience to some extent must exist ; and altho'igh it is unnecessary that I should say anything in reference to your remark as to the want of attention on the Metropolitan Railway, I think I may say that the directors of that company are actuated by the same desire that is felt here, to afford the best accommodation in their power to the suburban traffic on the Great Western Railway, and I hope before long that the running of through trains may be resumed with advantage to the neighbourhood and with benefit to the companies themselves." RAILWAY IN TEI LICENCE. LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN. The London and North-Western Railway Company are serving the notices for the property required for the im provement of their passenger station, Lime-street, in Liver pool, and have decided on building a large and convenient hotel adjoining the station, UXBRIDGE AND RICKNIANSWORTH. Tho half -yearly meeting of shareholders was held yester day at the office, Parliament-street; Lord Ebury in the chair. The Secretary read the report, which stated that the obstacles which had hitherto prevented the commencement of the line were now removed, and the works would be at once commenced. The directors had sought the active sup port and co-operation of the Great Western Company, who had agreed to work the line when ready for traffic. The whole of the notices on the landowners for the purchase of the land required for the line had been served. The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report, said the confidence of the directors in the importance and success of their line was increased by the proposed con struction of several adjacent lines, which would prove feeders. The agreement with the Great Western Company would, he believed, prove mutually beneficial. The share holders might depend upon the works being pushed forward as rapidly as possibly. The report was andopted, and the retiring directors, Lord Ebury and the Hon. R. Capel, were ro-elected. The meeting was then made special, and the working agreement with the Great Western Company was read by the solicitor and agreed to. Tho proceedings concluded with a vote of thanks to the chairman. HATFIELD AND ST. ALBANS. The half-yearly meeting of this company was held yes terday, at the Great Northern Station, King's-cross—AlL Larry in the chair. The report, an abstract of which has appeared in The Sun, was read by the secretary. The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report, said that the contractor would at once proceed with the con struction of the line, which the directors considered would afford, when opened, a fair return upon its cost. The bills contemplated by the Midland Railway Company would in no way affect the interests of the undertaking. The report was adopted, and the retiring directors, Lord Ebury and tho Hon. R. Capel, were re-elected. Mr. Jenkins was elected auditor in the place of Mr. Beattie, resigned. WATFORD AND RICKMANSWORTH. The half-yearly meeting of this company was held yes terday at the office, Parliament-street —Lord Ebury in the chair. he secretaryread the report, which stated that the traffio receipts continued to increase, and the receipts for goods traffic during the short period the goods stations had been opened encouraged the directors to expect that a large re turn from this source when the line was fully at work• The directors believed the earnings would soon be steadily aug mented, and that the railway would ultimately become fairly remunerative. The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report, congratulated the shareholders upon the improving pro spects of the line, and ho believed that, as the difficultits attending the working of the line for the first few months were removed, the earnings would be steadily increased and at length would become remunerative. When the resources of the line were developed he had no doubt as to the result. The report was adopted, and a vote of thanks to the chair man closed the proceedings. OS %VESTRY, ELLESMERE, AND WHITCHURCH. The half yearly meeting was held at Ellesmere on Satur day—Mr. G. H. Whalley, M.P., in the chair. The report stated that the directors had sanctioned an application to Parliament for increase of capital, and also, with the consent of the Oswestry and Newtown Company, had renewed the application for the extension of the line from the neighbourhood of Ellesmere to Ruabon and Wrex ham. They had also exchanged running powers with other companies, which would secure a thorough communication between Merthy and Crowe. Mr. K. Gartside was elected a director in the place of Mr. Whalley, who did not offer himself for re-election. Mr. Parson was re-elected. The proceedings terminated with a vote of thanks to the chairman. OSWESTRY AND NEWTOWN-. The half yearly meeting was held at Welehpool on Mon- day—Mr. G, H. Whalley, M.P., in the chair. The CHAIRMAN, at great length, referred to the differences existing between Mr. Sevin and a majority of the Board, and concluded by moving an adjournment of the meeting, in order that some amicable arrangement might be effected. A report by the directors was circulated among the share holders, but was not read to the meeting. Captain JOHNS, a director, addressed the meeting at con siderable length, and concluded by submitting to the meet ing a report signed by himself and two other directors, Mr. Tootal and Mr. Gartside, dilapproving the Course adopted by the chairman and other directors. This was carried by a large majority. Mr, Garteide Nibs re-elected a director, and Mr. Howell LLYNVI VALLEY. The half-yearly meeting of this company was held on Thursday, at the Great Western Hotel, Paddington, Mr. Macgregor, in the chair. The report stated that the gross revenue for the past six month amounted to £9,45: against 1.9,374 for the preced ing six months, and £9,426 for the corresponding period of last year. The receipts had been effected by a reduction of the rates, and also by the diversion of some of the coal traf fic to the Great Western Railway. The general traffic, how ever, had increased. The net income, after deducting inte rest and expenses, was £4,291; of that amount there would be required for the payment of dividend, at the rate of 5 per cent, per annum on the preference stock, £3,655, leaving a balance of £632. The directors proposed to add to that ba lance £748 from the reserve fund, and to recommend a divi dend on the ordinary stock of 4 per cent, per annum. The commencement of the passenger traffic had been delayed, but the first passenger train passed over the line on the 25th ult. The construction of the Ogmore Railway to join the Llynvi Valley was proceeding rapidly. The report was unanimously adopted, and the dividend recommended therein were agreed to. The retiring directors were re , elected, and a vote of thanks to the chairman closed the proceedings. CASTLE DOUGLAS AND DUMFRIES. The report of the directors states that the total revenue for the half-year ending Tan. 31 was £9,280, and the total expenditure £5,923, of which £3,636 was paid to the Glas gow and South-Western Company for working and main taining the line. The balance of revenue amounted to £3,357, out of which a dividend was recommended at the rate of 5 per cent. on the preference shares and 3s. per share on the original £lO shares, leaving a balance of £124. The direc tors regret the discontinuance of the express service by train and steamer communicating with Ireland via the Port patrick Railway, RAILWAY BILLS. Yesterday, in the committee of the House of Commons, the Crystal Palace and South London Junction was passed. The bills of the North and South Western Junction, Ham mersmith and City, Hammersmith and Wimbledon, and Kew, Turnham-green, and ,Hammersmith were passed. The bill for the South-Eastern to make an extension to Eastbourne was also passed. The clauses of the Lancashire and Yorkshire (additional powers) and Leeds and Halifax (new works) were passed. TRAFFIC RECEIPTS FOR THE WEEK. Railwa s. Miles Opened. Receipts. y 1861. 1863. 1864. 1863, £ L Belfast and N. Counties 136 136 1,749 1.826 Belfast and Comity Down 49 49 608 665 Blyth and Tyne 2B 28 1,987 1,640 Bristol and Exeter l2ll 1211 5,119 5,437 Caledonian Cockermouth& Workington Bl 84 218 283 Cork and Bandon 2O 20 297 317 Cork, Blackrock, &Passage 6l 61 112 152 Cork and Youghal Cornwall 6 51 53 1 1,351 1,125 Deeside l7 17 221 231 Dublin & Belfast Junction..., 63 63 1,260 1,234 Dublin and Drogheda 75 63 1,398 1.425 Dublin and 3leath Dub. & Wicklow and Wextd 9ll 481 1,899 1,645 Edinburgh and Glasgow Furness, &c 5O 5 , 3,170 2,795 Glasgow & South-Western Gt. Eastern,Nrfk.,&E. Union Great Northern 353 351 30,494 27,710 Great North of Scotland 5B 58 1,489 1.807 lit. Northn. & Westn. (I re l . ) 7 ll 711 409 428 r it.Southn. & Westn.(lrind.) 3731 329 6,769 6 846 Great Western 10561 10561 64,724 52,507 Inverness & Aberdeen Juno B6/ 861 958 967 Inverness & Perth Junction 1191 - 1,012 - Irish North-Western 145 145 1,667 1,647 Lancashire& Yorkshire 402 395 34,830 31,080 Limerick and Ennis.. Limerick and Foynes 264 26 82 89 Llanelly 461 461 640 601 London & North-Western London and Blackwall 5l 51 1,543 1,630 London & South-Western Lond. Brighton, &S. Coast 261! 2611 12,307 14, 22 London, Chatham, & Dover 721 72* 3,475 2 779 Do. Metropolitan Extension 101 51 1,790 300 Lond., Tilbury, & Southend Han.,Sheffield, & Lincolnsh blanch. S.Jun.&Altrincham 94 ' 91 1,162 1,063 Maryport and Carlisle Metropolitan Midland (incl. N.-Weatern) 641 6'io 42,478 38,064 Midland Gt.Westn. of Irind 2591 2591 3,646 5,313 Monkland llonmouthsh. Rail. & Canal 44 44 2,647 2,401 North British, Edin., Perth and Dundee N-Eastern and Stock. & DarL 1095 10791 51,004 47,731 North London 9 9 3,138 3,049 North Staffordshire 254 254 8,426 7.e16 Oswestry and Newton 5O 42 1,107 899 Rhymney l9l 191 917 868 St. Helen's Canal & ltailway 52 62 2,202 2,075 Scottish Central Scottish North-Eastern l 3B 138 4,99.1 4,803 Somerset and Dorset 66 391 157 350 South Devon South-Eastern 306 306 14,783 16,137 Taff Vale 67 55 5,783 5,805 Ulster ll9 921 2,3 9 2,076 . ,-, ... Vale of Clwyd Vale of Neath 3 24 254 2,540 2.031 Waterford and Kilkenny 3l 31 327 335 Waterford and Limerick 77 77 1,064 1,281 West Cornwall 274 274 726 711 W.llartlepoolliarbr.StßaiL 52 52 3,696 3.923 W'haven,Cleatorot Egrmnt 7 7 662 623 Whitehaven Junction l3 13 1,048 843 Wilitehaven & Furness Jun 35 35 933 792 FOREIGN AND COLONIAL. Antwerp and Rotterdam 52 62 1,229 1,034 Austrian B2B 828 28,53 t 28,.01 Belgian Eastern Junction 26 21 348 241 Bombay, Baroda, AL Cen. India 185 1674 3,066 1,772 Buffalo and Lake Huron l6l 1614 2,283 2,5 3 7 Detroit and Milwaukie lB9 189 4,481 3,437 Dutch Rhenish Eastern Bengßi Eastern of France • . 1135 1302 50,379 49,550 East Indian Grand Trunk of Canada lO 9O 1000 18,186 16,553 Great Indian Peninsula B3 495 10,644 8,162 Great Luxembourg 134 134 4,W 3 4.6 53 Great Southern of India Great Western of Canada 345 315 14,013 13,935 Madras. Madrid, Saragossa StAlicant 650 6 -- 17 4,p 15,880 ~t,,,- Northern of Canada Northern of France...... 69 1 : 1 1 , 6v9 1 71 4 47 638 1,6713-7 Norwegian Trunk Ottoman -4 48 4 315 311 Paris, Lyons, & Mediterrn 1835 1 713 109,022 119,814 Paris and Orleans 1614 1494 58,9G4 57,584 Pernambuco 774 --- 1,590 1,666 Royal Danish 69 69 Sambre and Meuse 6B - - 64 1,326 1,408 South Austrian Southern of France ..... ....• • 770 - - Victorian lO6 1 & 9 3 6 0 24,158 v503 2 9 2 :3 7 3 18 3 Welland ....... ..... .. 25 25 , West Flanders - - 75 1012 956 W. and N.W. of France 932 813 37, , 989 30,478 Steam Shipbuilding 04 the Clyde. The fine paddle steamer Washington, built by Messrs. Scott and Co. for the French Compagnie Generale Trans atlantique, has made a satisfactory trial trip. The burden of the Washington, which is intended to run between New York and Havre, is 3,400 tons builders' measure ment, and her machinery ha s b een supplied by the Greenock Fonndry Company, who have fitted her with side lever engines of about 850 h orse power nominal. The diameter of the cyli n d ers i s 94iin, and the length of stroke is 9ft. The paddl es are 37ft 6in in diameter, and the engines are suppli e d w i t h steam from four largo boilers, each fitted with 284 brass tubes, 7ft long by 3in diameter. The large boilers are all cased in malleable iron plates, so constructed that any part can be removed without taking down the whole casing. The Washington " ran the lights" Bowen, built by M essrs. A. and J. Inglis for the Queens land e s t. t t e r a ia m l t N r i in 7 6 / minut es, The paddle steamer Lady Navigation Company has also made a trial trip, and " run the li g ht s, " that is, accomplished the distance between the Clock and Cumbrae lighthouses, in 69 min. The Lady Bowen, w h ich is 527 tons register, has two oscil lating engines of 150 horse power. Messrs. L. Hill and Co., onh of Port Glasgow, have launched a screw steamer named the Jamaica Packet, for the Jamaica coasting trade, under the agency of Messrs. Jamieson, Souter, and Co., of Kingston, Messrs. W. Denny and Brothers, of Dumbarton, have launched a screw of 872 tons, named the Tennessee; she is 872 tons burden, and is to be fitted with engines of 150 horse power by Messrs. Denny and Co. An armour-plated frigate, intended for the Danish Government, has been launched by Messrs. J, and G. Thompson of Govan. She is to be fitted with engines of 600 horse power, and her bur den is 3,500 tons, har length being 280 ft ; her armour plates are 41in thick, with a strong backing of teak and iron plating. --- ADVERTISEMENT...I—Avoid medicines: they always aggra vate chronic complaints, but Du Barry's Delicious Health Restoring Revalenta Arabica Food, which saves fifty times its cost in other remedie s , invari a bly cures them, restorin g perfect digesti on, strong nerves, sound lungs, healthy liver, pure blood, refreshing sleep, f unc tional regularity, and energy to the most di sordered or enfeebled. we extract a few out of 60,000 Cures :—Cure No. 58,216 or the Marchioness de Brehan, Paris, o f a dyer complaint, wasting away for seven years, debility , with a nervous palpitation all over, bad digestion, constant s leeplessness, the most intolerable nervous agitation, and dreadfully low spirited.—Cure No. 1,771. Lord Stuart de Decies, Lord Lieut. of Waterford, of many years' dyspepsia.—No. 4 9,832. " Fifty years' indescribable agony from dyspepsia, n ervousness, asthma, cough, constipation, flatulency, spasms, sickness, and vomiting.—Maria Jolly." —Cure No. 16,270. Mr. James Roberts, of Frimley, Surrey, of thirty years' diseased lungs, spitting of blood, liver ders.nge • ment, and parti a l deafness.—Cure No. 47,121. Miss Elizabeth Jacobs, of extreme nervousness, indigestion, gatherings, low spirits, and nervous fancies. Cure No. 54,8316. The Rev. Jas, T. Campbell, Fakenhatn, Norfolk, "of indigestion and torpi dity of the liver, which had resisted all medical treatment." In tins, 1 lb., 2s. 9d. ; 21b., 4s. 6d ; 51b., 115. ; i2lb. , 225. ; '4lb 405.—Barry I)u Barry and c o ,, N 0,77, Regent-street, London; also Fortnum and Mason ; and all Grocers and Chemists to very town of the United Kingdom. ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE, HOME CIRCUIT.—HERTFORD, Mirch 4. (Before the Lord Chief Baron.) EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE OF ROBBERY. Samuel Wabey, 25, was charged with stealing £9 in gold and other moneys, the property of Edward Foreman, since deceased. Mr. Taylor prosecuted; the prisoner was defended by Mr. Codd. The circumstances under which this charge was preferred against the prisoner were of a very unusual character, he having been in the first instance charged with the crime of wilful murder, and the circumstantial evidence that was brought forward in support of that charge was of such a character, that but for the circumstance of a witness named Carroll, who happened accidentally to pass the deceased whilst in a dying state before the prisoner could have had anything to do with him, in all human probability he would have been convicted of that crime, and paid the penalty of his life for it, the facts proved being of such a description that no one would have doubted that the conviction was a just one. The deceased was a young man, a miller by occupation, and resided near the town of Hitchin, at a mill called Charlton Mill, and it was his habit to go to different places collecting money once a week. He started upon this expedition on the day he met with his death, with a white mule, a very fast animal, and a cart, as was his custom, and before he set out his wife gave him two pounds in gold and silver to enable him to give change, this money being wrapped up in a white linen bag. He set out about 3 o'clock in the afternoon of January 11, and went to a village called Oftiey and other places, and was paid various sums of money by different persons, amounting altogether to £9, and started to return home shortly before 7 o'clock in the even ing. What occurred after this was never very clearly ascer tained, but about 7 o'clock in the evening he was seen near a place called Preston, and the mule, very shortly after wards, was heard to break into a gallop, as though it had run away, and about two miles from this spot the mule and cart were stopped, the deceased having at this time either fallen or been thrown out of the vehicle. At 9 o'clock a baker named Carroll, passing by a place called Preston-hill, found the unfortunate man lying in the middle of the road, and snoring or breathing very hard, and he appeared to have attempted to rouse him but could not do so, and went on his way, and at a short distance met the prisoner Wabey, ac companied by a lad named Joseph Harmer, his brother-in law, and he told him there was a man lying in the road, and to this fact the prisoner probably owed his escape from being tried for the murder, as it turned out that the injuries re• ceived by the deceased were as much to be attributed to blows from a bludgeon or other blunt instrument as to a fall. The prisoner seemed to have told Carroll that he should not meddle with the man, but according to the evidence given by the boy Harmer before the magistrate, when they got up to the place where deceased was lying, the prisoner first urned him over, and said he did not know who he was, and then felt down his clothes, and told the boy to go on, and in a few minutes rejoined him, and said that " he had got his -- money," and showed him something in a linen bag, This boy, when ho was now examined, evidently attempted to t„ - : , - . •en the prisoner, and represented that he did not know what it was the r. —isoner showed hi m , b u t th e ot h er evidence established in the clearest poas, hie manner that the prisoner had committed a most cruel a n d h ear tl ess : obbery upon th e unfortunate man while he was lyi ng i n a d y i ng state. The deceased seemed to have lain three or four hours in the road before any assistance was rendered him, and he was then re moved to the Hitchiu Infirmary, where it was found that the whole of his money was gone ; and this at Bret gave rise to the suspicion that a murder had been committed, and the prisoner and the boy Harmer were taken into custody, It ' was proved that before the day in question the prisoner was in distressed circumstances, and in arrears for rent, but that on the night the robbery was committed he changed two or three pieces of gold, but that on the following day he took the boy to St. Albans, leaving his work, upon a plea. sure expedition, and paid all his easpenses, Besides this, it appeared that his smock frock was bloody, and that when he was questioned he denied having seen the deceased at all on the night he met his death, but it appeared that he did afterwards say to one of the witnesses that he saw the de ceased on the road, and that he thought his brains had been knocked out, but he denied having touched him, and said that his reason for this was that he had once got into trouble through having interfered with a drunken man. It was also proved that when the police searched the pri soner's cottage they found four sovereigns wrapped up two and two in separate pieces of linen concealed in a dress belonging to the wife of the prisoner, and she could not give any account of how this money came into her possession, There were the principal points in the evidence against the prisoner, but there were a variety of other little circum stances which left no doubt whatever of his guilt, arod it also seemed extremely probable that if, instead of plunder ing the unhappy man, the prisoner had obtained assistance, his life might possibly have been saved. Mr. Codd made an able address to the jury for the prisoner. and he endeavoured to show that during the many hours the unfortunate deceased had lain upon the road he might have been robbed by some other person, and that tho money disposed of by the prisoner was his own savings. The Lord Chief Baron having summed up, The jury almost immediately returned a verdict of guilty. His lordship, in passing sentence, told the prisoner that he had boen convicted of a very cruel offence, and the evi dence against him was perfectly conclusive. The crime of robbery from the person was under any circumstances a serious crime, but in the present case there was this aggra vation, that the prisoner had robbed a man who, according to his own story, he found lying upon the road with, as he thought, his brains knocked out, and instead of endeavour ing to render him any assistance, he plundered him of all the money he had about him. Under these circumstances he should sentence him to be kept in penal servitude for four years. The learned judge then ordered the boy Harmer into custody, in order that he might be taken before a magistrate to be dealt with either as having been concerned in the rob bery, or for the wilful perjury which, be said, there was no doubt he had committed. 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SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS, POST.—Although the publication of the corre spondence relating to the Dano-German dispute is not yet completed, the last instalment given to Par liament marks the point where negotiations virtu ally came to an end and hostilities began. We have now before us the complete history of the Etpecial mission to Copenhagen, and are in a posi tion to form an opinion of the means adopted by the British Government to prevent an open rupture between Denmark and Germany. The opening despatch of the present series announces the first interview of Lord Wodehouse with M. Hall, the Danish Prime Minister; and the last conveys to the British Government the intelligence that the Danes have been summoned to evacuate Schleswig by the German Commander-in-Chief. If war could have been averted by diplomacy it was during the six weeks which elapsed between the dates of these two despatches that the most fitting opportunity presented itself for attaining that end, and conse quently it is from the correspondence contained in the present series that we must mainly draw our conclusions as to the soundness of the policy pur sued by those Powers which vainly (as the event proved) endeavoured to prevent the Dano-German war. When Lord Wodehouse reached Copenhagen, fresh from an interview with the Prussian Minis ter Count von Bismark, he had just received from Earl Russell a despatch instructing him to urge the Danish Cabinet to suspend the common Constitution which had been promulgated on the 18th of November. To this despatch we directed attention a few days since, and especially noticed the fact that it was penned after the British Cabinet had been made awafe that the true cause of the hostility of the German roeeere to Denmark was supplied by her " democratic institutions." Lord Wodehouse lost no tim e in putting himselfin com munication with the representative; of Fanceßussia, and Sweden, with th e v i ew o f obtaining r , their assent to the proposals which, at the sugges tion of England, were to be made to the Danish Cabinet, and in a despatch dated December 19 he informed the Foreign Secretary of the result of these preliminary negotiations. From this communica tion it appears that the French, Russian, and Swe dish Envoys were taken by surprise by our Ambas sador's announcement that he was instructed to press upon the Danish Government the revocation of the Constitution of November, and candidly admitted that they were without instructions upon that point. They agreed, however, to telegraph to their respec tive Governments for instructions; the S wedish En voy not concealing from Lord Wodehouse his inten tion to recommend his Government not to accede to the English proposal. Ultimately General Fleury, the French Ambassador, received a reply from Paris authorising him " to urge the revocation of the Constitution," but also, as it would appear, directing him to act independently of his colleagues, " The general," writes Lord Wodehouse, " told me that he should speak to the King and 111. Hell in this sense before his departure for Berlin which he has fixed for to-morrow." M. d'Ewers, the Russian Ambassador, however, received orders from his Government to act in concert with Lord Wodehouse, and accordingly on the following day, December 20, the English and Russian Envoys had an interview with M.Hall, when they verbally communicated to him the wishes of their respective Governments. The scheme propounded in Earl Russells letter of instructions of the joint co-operation of the four Powers, or the embodiment of their requests in an identic note, was consequently not realised. In a despatch dated December 21 Lord Wodehouse in forms his Government of what passed at this inter vie w ; and it is the most important of the series, as it marks the total failure of the English ne gotiations. Lord Wodehouse met M. Hall on that occasion prepared to urge the Danish Government to modify their entire political system, and authorised, if need be, to enforce compliance with his demands by assurances that, in the event of refusal, "Denmark would be left to encounter Germany on her own responsi bility." Notwithstanding, however, the apparently overwhelming influence which the English and Russian representatives brought to bear on the Danish Minister, Lord Wodehouse is compelled to confess that " M. Hall gave us very little reason to hope that our advice would be listened to." Nor is this result to be wondered at, The English Envoy who acted as spokesman, although in a position to say what England would not do in case the Danish Government refused to revoke the obnoxious Con stitution, had no authority to promise them any material assistance in the event of their compliance, and of such compliance failing to satisfy the Ger man Powers. When the Danish Minister, waiving the consideration of whether the Constitution of November was a violation of the Danish engage ments towards Germany, asked " Cui bono, if we withdraw it?" the English Ambassador was obliged to evade the question by asking another. "He had asked me," wrote Lord Wodehouse, "what Denmark was to gain if the Constitution was revoked, but the question was rather what she woukl lose if it was not revoked ;" and then followed the threat, re peated at second hand, from 'NI. von Bismark, that, if the Constitution was not repealed before the Ist of January, Austria and Prussia would repudiate the Treaty of 1852. 111. Hall thereupon pointed out that however willing the Danish Government might be to follow the counsels given by the neutral Powers, it would be practically impos sible to revoke the Constitution within the pre scribed time, to which Lord Wodehouse, with a lamentable ignorance of the policy of the German Powers, replied that he " felt confident that her Majesty's Government would urge upon Prussia and Austria to extend the term they had named, and it could hardly be supposed that so reasonable a re quest would be refused." The Danish Minister, however, with a more thorough acquaintance with the real designs of Germany, thought otherwise, and declined to adopt the English proposals. The dangers attendant on their refusal were, as he ad mitted, great ; but those which might fellow on their acceptance were in his opinion still greeter. "At present," said he, " the King and his people are united, and this cordial union of the King with his people is a tower of strength. But if the Consti tution were revoked, this great advantage would be lost." How just were his conclusions was subse quently proved when, his Cabinet having been dis solved, his successors, having adopted the English proposals, convened the Rigsraad with the view of revoking the Constitution, but, nevertheless, failed to arrest the advance of the German armies, or to enlist more than the barren sympathies of Eng land. The most that can he said for our fruitless negotiations is, that, however framed, they could not have been successful. Austria and Prussia had finally determined on invading Schleswig before Lord Wodehouse left England, and nothing that he could have said, or the Danish Government have done, would have averted the catastrophe. This was fully foreseen by our Minister at Berlin, who, on the day after Lord Wodehouse's departure from that capital for Copenhagen, wrote to Lord Russell that, in consequence of the German Cabinets having refused to specify their demands, a successful issue to his mission could not be anticipated. "Is it pro bable," wrote Sir A. Buchanan on the 14th Decem ber, "that Lord Wodehouse will find the Danish Government willing to abandon one line of policy with respect to the organisation of the monarchy, which, in the event of war, has solid advantages to offer to Denmark, before he can give them any idea of the manner in which Germany will expect them to carry out another system ?" There was, we re peat, at no time any reasonable hope that diplomacy " pure and simple" would have secured Denmark from aggression ; and, such being the case, it is a matter for regret that the British Government should have thought proper to employ it, However good our intentions were, there can be no doubt that our interference has prejudiced instead of benefiting Denmark. HERALD.—" The loss of a month," says a New York paper, " is equivalent to the loss of a battle." The months of the spring of 1864 are already in full movement towards the summer, in which, if the last prophecy is worth anything, the world without is to witness the triumph, too long delayed, of the armies of subjugation, and to put on mourning, if it pleases, for a brave people. And yet the prospects of success of the opposing forces .seem to an outsider to be marvellously equal, so much so that we still feel confident in the ultimate triumph of those who are inspired by a higher aim and sustained by a nobler feeling than the lust of conquest. It has come to be a battle of mercenaries against patriots, of men fighting for they know not what, for they care not what, against men who are maintaining what to them is more precious than life. So that if on mere strategical grounds wo are disposed to say that the Federal generals occupied as good or even a better position than their adversaries, we should find that those adversaries had so greatly the advantage in the hopes that animate them, the confidence that inspires men who have faith in their cause, that it would be impossible to deny that the chances of success were in their favour. As we have always believed that even if the Federals were to succeed in their attempts against all the fortified places of the Southern Con federacy, were to plant their fl ig in every town between Maryland and the frontier of Mexico, they would yet find it impossible to hold the country against the wishes of the inhabitants, and so be as far off as ever from the goal of their ambition, it is natural that we should feel more confident still of the success of the cause o f i n d epen d ence w h en we find its champions contestin g a l arg e portion of thei r territory with such success against a foe overwhelm ing in numbers and in the resources whim' are the sinews of war. The attitude of the great arrniet4 confronting one a not h er i n the N ort h an d i n the West, is still an attitude of mutual defiance and mutual expectancy. Each seems waiting for some forward move of its adversary, of which it may take advantage. Each seems to be saving to its enemy, like the polite Frenchman to the English troops a , ! Fontenoy—" Gentlemen of the Guard, fire first !' There is Gen. Lee, still confronting Gen. Meade in Virginia. The latter, contrary to expectation, is to be continued in his command throughout the coming compaign. Disgusted with the ill euccees of his last ill-advised advance across the Rapidan, Meade does not seem to have any distinct idea of attacking Rich mond. The second American Fabius seems content to emulate the noble example of his predecessor, and to cover Washington to the best of his ability. As the general feeling in the South is strongly in favour of transferring the war, if possible, to the enemy's soil, we shall not be surprised if the Con federate commander, now that the roads are hard and the fine weather is setting in, should find that the spring is seasonable for an advance of his artil lery once more towards the Potomac. The soil of Maryland and the Pennsylvanian border is now familiar enough to Southern strategists, and the next time they enter upon it they will not fail to turn their past experience to good account. The Confederate troops are more eager than ever for the fight ; they are burning to avenge the reverses of the year that is past. The ardour with which whole brigades of discharged soldiers have re-enlisted into the ranks has deserved the eloquent thanks of Pre sident Davis, who addresses his troops like a general on the eve of some great victory, fore shadowed by the hopes of a patriot leader and to be realised by the stalwart arms of patriot soldiers. Then, turning to the armies on the Tennessee and Georgian frontier, we find them, too, confronting one another, and the balance of confidence in clining to the Confederate side. So far from having retired from Dalton, General Johnson has advanced his pickets to Ringold, a position much nearer to Chattanooga, and threatening the flank of General Grant's army. An advance northwards, few miles only from Ringold, would sever the - ;cations of Grant with the beleagured army commute._ ' l l threatened by Longstreet. It is at Knoxville a, retired across the French said that Longstreet n reliable information Broad River, bat we h a ve u _ 'he south-west, of his recent movements. Var to _ Federal and across the State of Misdesippf, General Sherman has been e xec u ting a n nary and, to us, inexplicable movement. Ile bINA. marched across the state from west to east, frotr4 Vicksburg, through Jackson, to Meridian, close tei the Alabama frontier and the line of the Ohio and Mobile Railroad. Crossing first the Big Black River, then the Pearl River, he finds himself close to the waters of the Tombigbee, which fall into the Bay of Mobile. But the defenders of Mobile were not to be caught napping. Bishop Polk, one of the bravest and most skilful of the Con federate leaders, covers Mobile with his army. It appears that Sherman managed to interpese hiss force between the warlike ecclesiastic and Mont gomery, the capital of Alabama, with which it was necessary that he should maintain his com munications. On the 13th February there was a severe engagement between the Federal and Confederate armies at Enterprise, a place newt' the frontier of Alabama, and on the line of the Mo' bile and Ohio Railroad. The result, says the tele gram, is unknown. No news, in such a case, is the reverse of good news for the North. If Sherman should have met with a repulse his immense dis tance from his base of operations at Vicksburg, more than 150 miles of an enemy's country, would seem to place his army in the most imminent dan ger of being either destroyed or captured. A strong force of cavalry under Grierson was charged with the duty of protecting this road, but even this auxi lary has not passed unchallenged. We hear of a cavalry encounter between Jackson and Meriden, in which either Wheeler or Forrest must have been engaged on the Confederate side. The advantage was claimed for the Federals, but the fact that his communications are thus threatened alai in danger of being cut off does not serve to present the pros pects of tne audacious Sherman in a very promising light, It is tolerably clear that he will never reach Mobile. He has displayed more boldness than judg ment in this attempt of his to penetrate what he supposed to be a vulnerable point of the South. lie will probably fail to establish himself on the eastern frontier of Mississippi, and the only question ig whether he will be able to retire with safety from the net into which he has plunged with such apparent disregard of conseouenees. The last letter of our correspondent at Richmond gives us a hope ful view of the state of things at the Confederate capital. It is a new thing in the history of this young nation, it may be taken as s cheering sign of their future, that they seem in thi s f our th yea r of their war of liberation to have given up without it murmer the idea of foreign aid, and to be content to fight out their battle alone against all odds. Never were they more hopeful, never more determined than now. The language of the President, the preses of private citizens, breathes the same unanimous spirit of calm resolution. When the hard fight is over, and the battle woe, it will be a pleasing thing to them all, it will be the proudest thought that ever shaped the character and guided the destinie s of a nation, that while other states looked on with Indifference or disapproval, while the outside world folded its arms and left the Southern Confederacy to vindicate its rights by the strength of its own right arm, the Confederacy, accepting the issue, and looking neither this way nor that way, but only forward at the foe, went on from victory to victory in the strength of the God of battles, who defends the weak, till at last its independence was secured, and its triumph confessed. COUNTRY MARKETS. LIVERPOOL—FRIDAY. There was a limited attendance of the town and eountrY trade to-day, and but little demand, buyers being able t° suit themselves out of the recent arrivals at nearly 2d Pe:, cental under the rates of last Friday. Flour unsaleable, 6d to is decline on the week. Oats and oatmeal scarce)); inquired for. Egyptian beans in small supply, and 6d P e qr dearer in price. Peas and barley are the turn cheaper' There was very littl e d o i ng i n I n di an corn, althou g offered at 6d per cental less money. WAKEFIELD—FRIDAY. Only a small business was done in wheat to-day, 911 4 millers generally succeed in purchasing on rather esio' d terms than on Friday lust. Barley met a limited sale, 0 4 the prices in f a vou r o f b uyers. Other articles mainta i n s " former prices. Averages for the week : Wheat 1,582_ qrs., at . 398 30 Rye — —s Od B eans Peas Oats, ... Barley •,• 370 38s 111 d —s Od --3 Od 313 6d TAMFORD—FRIDAY. White wheat, S 42s to 448; red, 388 to 41s per 36 atone , Barley, malti ng, 33 s to 35s ; grinding, 298 to 32s per gar Oats, 188 to 22 s per 24 atone. Beans, old, 408 to ---0 qr. ; new, 34s to 368. LINCOLN—FRIDAY. 33 6 White wheat ne w , 42 s to 488 Barley, grinding.. 30s to Red do. 36s to 41 s O a t s , old, .. 235 to 20 ' Old white —B to —s N ew do Red do —s to —s 1 Beans. Barley, malting 34 s t o 36 8 } Beans, new 3 4 1 9 4 0 : 8 t to t Fs° CORK —FRIDAY. neet The following wer e th e quotat i ons this morning oi wheat, 8s Od to 8s 10d ; w hit e, 8 s O d to 9s 8d , barley, to 6d to 8s Od ; oats, 4s 10d to 6s 2d ; black do., 4$ 4ci 5s 3d. BRISTOL SUGAR—FnrDny. The raw sugar market exhibits a very firm tone, somewhere about 350 hhcle of Demeraras, partly cry lised, have been s old a t p r i ces f u ll y 6 d per cwt. h i g h e r OP; last week. Refine :1 goods sell freely, at full rateß• ruin the demand is inactive, but prices are firm. Persons in debt may obtain instant protection aga il l imprisonment or seizure of thei r goo d s, and an ent i re r ele o from all debts and li a biliti es without publicity, by application to Messrs. Marsh a ll , soliators of the Court of BankruP bw Charges under £5 payable by easy instalments. Offic es (established 1830), 12, Hatton-garden. City branch-13,g ° gate-street, Bank.—ADvT. Births. HUNT. —On. the 3d inst., a t 5, R u tl an d- ga t e , the w ife of "" George Ward° Hunt, EN., M.P., of a son. RIDLEY.—On the 3d inst., a t Gloucester-road. Rege t'S' park, the wife of Arthur S. Ridley, Esq., of a son. or Vivii.N.—On the 3d inst. at Penzance, the wife of A u g tus Vivian, Esq,, o f a daughter. O. WRAT.—On the 4th inst. at Mortlake, the wife of Wray, Esq., of a d augl : s" ter. Marriages. BURRA—CURTRIS.--On the 3d inst., at ThorneY, S., Henry Burra, E eq ., o f Rye, Sus.ex, late Bombay - to Frances, seco n d d aughter of Major Curteis, Leo. Rye, Sussex, A,bb e i GIBSON—MIBRIDE.—O n :th e 3d inst., at Mary'- - ,dou , Church, Capel-str ee t, Samuel Gibson, Esq,, of o° ' - late square, London, to Jane, late third daughter of the George M'Bride, Esq., Leeson-street, Dublin. Deaths. ~„ BROWN.—On the 3d inst., at his residence, Rich hill. near Liverpool, Sir William Brown, 80. fat , HATTON.—On the 3d instat C d-t E thviu am en own, ton, Esq. MASON.—On the 2d inst,, at Deal, George Mason, M.lt C.S.E., aged 50. af ,lo l POOLE. —On the 29th ult ,at Southsea, Major-Ger' Poole, late H.A., aged . 65. ; of , 1 7 ' RUSKIN.—On the 3d inst., John James Ruek.n' Billiter-street, city, and of Denmark-hill, Camb er aged 79. SOUTHWELL.—On the Ist inst., at The Priory, "- Diret Bart., the lion, Miss Southwell, of Hindlip, .Worcestere aged 59. London: Pritized and Fr bliehed by WILLIAM ANDB F; Of , of vo, 112, Strand, Printer, at TUE SUN Office IC) ;i0 1 Strand, the Precinct of the 'savoy, in the C Olll3 Mildletsex.—Saturday, March 5, 1861.